Brassiere



Dec- 31, 1""9168 G. M. STEPHENSEN 3,419,895

BRASSIERE Filed nec. 27, 196e sheet of 2 v 5\ v FIG l 7 l; 30 552 169 7-15a z 6 V53 144 I 72 .A Z 5 I 52 `141:6 45.2 174 4a j, 60 4g 16 7g j; 64.@ 74

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INVENTOR, Gla/fa /W Szep/'fezfse/v BY United States Patent O 3,419,895BRASSIERE Gloria M. Stephensen, 2611 Forbes St., Jacksonville, Fla.32204 Filed Dec. 27, 1966, Ser. No. 604,785 7 claims. (Cl. 12s- 484)This invention relates to brassieres and more particularly to brassieresof the type having a sling member located below the breast receivingcups or pockets for aiding the support and separation of the breasts.

A general object of the subject invention is to provide a brassiere ofthe uplift type wherein means are provided to the wearer in order toeffect balanced bust weight suspension.

Another object of this invention is to provide a brassiere which willcomfortably support the bust and which will present the same inaccordance with acceptable modern dress practices.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article of clothing inthe nature of a brassiere which will serve the necessary supportfunctions for which it is intended and do this in spite of multiplelaundryings, excessive wearings by the user thereof; and which isnon-complex in construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture andmaintain, and durable in use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a brassiere having asupport band upon which the Ibust may rest for a proper upwardcontouring thereof.

A further object of the subject invention is to provide a brassierehaving a support band for the bust which will when properly adjustedkeep the busts in their natural positions and contour the same inaccordance with the users dress.

It is another object of this invention to provide a wearing apparel inthe nature of a brassiere so arranged and constructed to support thebusts in youthful form.

A further object of the invention is to provide a brassiere wherein eachbust supporting portion thereof includes a band to engage and supportthe underside of each bust.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a brassierewhich will support the lbreast in a natural form and do so withoutabnormal constriction thereof.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a brassiere that maybe used for forming and molding the breasts to their proper shape whenthey have been distorted by improper support means.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a brassierewhich has a breast support member and a breast covering member each ofwhich is separate in structure and function from the other.

It is another object of this invention to provide a two part brassierein which one of the parts is designed to support the breasts of thewearer in a natural manner, so as to eliminate the weight of the4breasts stretching the skin and muscles covering the top surfacesthereof, and generally to prevent the weights of the -breasts fromeffecting elongation thereof, and to give side support to the breastsnot only in the ster-nal region but in the lateral pectoral region sothat there will be no tendency for the mammary glands to retreat tounder the arms or the glands under the arms to sag from a lack ofsupport.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a brassiere thatwill give support under the arms so that there will be no tendency forthe mammary glands to enlarge in such regions, and so that if their areenlargements under the arms there will be a factor acting for reductionthereof.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of thisinvention are set forth with partcularity in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both 3,419,895 Patented Dec. 31, 1968 as toits organization and method of operation, together with further objectsand advantages thereof, may best be understood `by reference to thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a brassiere constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the barssiere of this inventionpositioned on a woman, portions of the brassiere being broken away toone side;

FIG. 3 is a right hand perspective view of the brassiere embodying thepresent invention positioned on a woman;

FIG. 4 is an additional right hand perspective view of the brassierewith portions thereof being broken away;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view along line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view along line 6-6 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view along line 7-7 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view along line 8 8 ofFIG. 2; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional View along line 9 9 ofFIG, 4.

Referring to the drawings in detail now, and in particularly to FIGS.144 thereof, the improved brassiere of this invention as shown thereinis generally designated by reference numeral 10. Brassiere 10 includes abreast covering member or structure 12 and a breast supporting member orstructure 14 each of which is separate in structure and function fromthe other. Breast covering member 12 and breast support member 14 areboth attached in the rear portion of the brassiere to a pair of shoulderstraps 16 and 18 along and by respective stitching 20 and 22, althoughonly one of these members need be attached to the shoulder straps.Shoulder straps 16 and 18 pass over respective shoulders 24 and 26 ofthe wearer 28 of the brassiere when the same is in place and in usethereon. The opposite or forward ends 38 and 32 of respective shoulderstraps 16 and 18, adjacent the front portion of the brassiere, areadjustably attached to the breast supporting or inner member 14, and thebreast covering or outer member 12 is releasable adjacent these ends.

Breast covering member 12 includes two breast receiving or breastcovering cups 34 and 36 which `are joined together at their inner,adjacent, generally vertical edges by appropriate stitching at referencenumeral 38. Breast receiving cup 34 is formed from four pieces ofmaterial or fabric 40, 42, 44 and 46 which are appropriately cut andjoined -by stitching along the seam lines 48 and 50. In like mannerbreast receiving cup 36 is fabricated from four sections of material orfabric 52, 54, 56 and 58 which are appropriately cut and then suitablyformed and joined together into the cup by stitching along seam lines 60and 62, such as to appropriately receive and cover the breast.

Breast covering member 12 further includes a central front panel 64having a generally straight lower edge 66 and which extends generallyfrom the continuation of seam line 50 of cup 34 to the extension of seamline 62 of cup 36. Panel 64 is formed from an appropriately cut piece offabric and sewn into breast covering member 34 along seam lines 68 and70 and continuation of seam lines 50 and 62 to give a generally finishedappearance and a generally straight, lower edgeline to the brassiere.

A panel of elasticized vmaterial 72 is sewn into the bra below panel 44along seams 68, 50 extended and 74. A similar panel 76 formed from anelasticized material is inserted beneath panel 58 of breast cup 36 andsecured along seam lines 70, 62 extended and 78. These elasticizedpanels 72 and 76 permit a limited amount of expansion in the horizontaldirection along the lower edge of the brassiere to allow for expansionand contraction of the rib cage during breathing and to permit limitedstretching of the bra along this bottom edge during stretching, bendingand twisting motions of the torso of the body of the person wearing thebra.

Each of the breast cups 34 and 36 has attached respeotively to its outeredge a side panel or backward extension 80 and 82 which pass about theside of the rib cage underneath the arm of the wearer. Panel or backwardextension 80 is attached at seam 74 and panel 82 or backward extensionis connected at seam 78. Attached respectively to the other and oppositeends of side panel portions 80 and 82 are back elasticized panels 84 and86 being respectively sewn to the side panels at seam lines 22 and 20.Panels or backward extensions 84 and 86 are formed from an appropriateelasticized material to permit a certain amount of expansion andcontraction of the brassiere about the wearer during breathing,stretching, bending and twisting motions.

A small section of fabric 88 containing pairs of eyes 90 and 92 issecured to the outer end of elasticized section 86 by stitching alongseam line 94. A pair of hooks 96 secured to a small piece of fabric 98is attached to the outer end of elasticized section 84 along seam line100 such as to meet and match sets of eyes 92 or 94 to secure the breastcovering member 12 about the body of the user, the hook and eyes joiningeach other in connected fashion in the central portion of the wearersback.

A strip of soft felted material 102 is sewned into the inside of thebrassiere adjacent the bottom edge 66 thereof and extends across thefront portion thereof to present a soft smooth surface to the body andto help maintain the brassiere in proper position on the body of theuser thereof. Similar felted soft strips of material 104 and 106 arerespectively secured to the top and bottom portion of elasticized backpanel 84, and like strips 108 and 110 are secured to the upper and lowerportions of elastieized back panel 86 for like purposes, see FIG. 6. Theback or inner side of small piece or section 88 is additionally feltedto present a soft smooth inner surface to the back of the user of thebrassiere and to further aid in maintaining the brassiere in position onthe wearer thereof.

Breast supporting member 14 includes both a left and right panel 112 and114 respectively, which are secured together along seam 116 at thecentral front portion of the brassiere. The material from which breastsupport member 14 is fabricated is of a somewhat heavy and stiffermaterial than the remainder of the bra such as to aid in the breastsupporting function, and it is felted on the inner side to present asoft and smooth surface for contacting the body. The material from whichbreast support member 14 is formed is cut on the bias to form both theleft and right panels 112 and 114 thereof, which are joined at seam 116.This, cutting of panels 112 and 114 on the bias reduces the stretchbetween the ends of the panels, thus making for a stronger and stiffersupport member 14 having a longer useful and more durable life. Theupper and lower edges of member 14 are finished with bias tape at 118and 120. A second thickness of like material is sewn into support member14 at 122 and at 124 to form reinforcing panels which further stiffenand reinforce the breast support member in these areasY The attachmentof reinforcing .panel 122 to the outer side of the left panel 112 ofbreast support member 14 is shown in detail in FIG. 8.

The outer ends or backward extensions 126 and 128 of the breast supportmember 14 are connected and attached to the breast covering member 12adjacent its outer ends along respective seam lines 22 and 20. Supportmember 14 is additionally attached to the covering member 12 along itslower edge on seam lines 130 and 132. Breast support member 14 isfurther secured to the breast covering member 12 by substantiallyvertical stitching 134 and 136 adjacent the outer edges of respectivebreast receiving cups 34 and 36. Seam lines 134 and 136 commence at thelower edge of support member 14 and covering member 12 and extendsubstantially vertically upward therefrom to insure that the supportmember 14 is maintained well up under the breasts and to prevent thesame from slipping or sliding downward when about the torso of theperson wearing the brassiere.

Breast support member 14 further includes two inverted U-shaped breastencircling harness members or supporting ribbons 138 and 140 whichgenerally conform to the upper edge of respective breast receiving cups34 and 36 when the brassiere is in place on the user thereof. The innerends 142 and 144 of respective support bands 138 and 140 are securedtogether and attached to support member 14 by means of a fabric eX-tension 146. While in the preferred embodiment of the invention depictedin the drawings, the inner ends 142 and 144 of harness members 138 and140 are shown as being fixed to fabric extension 146, they could beslidable therethrough; i.e., harness members 138 and 140 could beslidably connected to support member 14 by means of a looped fabricextension similar to fabric extension 146. The outer ends 148 and 150 ofrespective support ribbons or bands 138 and 140 are adjustably securedto the sides of support member 14 at positions underneath the frontportion of the armpit, see FIG. 4.

The adjustable connection of ends 148 and 150 to the support band orledge 14 is provided by a clasp mechanism 152 shown in detail in FIG. 9.Clasp mechanism 152 is secured through eyelet 154 in its lower end tothe support member 14 by a small piece of material 156 extendingtherethrough and secured to member 14 by stitching 158. Attached to theupper portion of base member `160 of clasp mechanism 152 is a latchmember 162 which is pivotable about its mounting posts, one of which isshown at 164. The outer end 150 of support ribbon 140 is threadedbetween the mounting posts on top of the base member 160, under thelatching member 162 and then folded on itself and stitched to preventthe same from becoming disattached from the clasp mechanism 152. Thisarrangement, as more clearly depicted in FIG. 9, prevents disassembly ofthe brassiere during washings of the same. Latch member 162 is movablefrom the position depicted at 166, in which position support band islocked and secured in place to prevent movement and slippage of thesame, to the pivoted position 168, in which position support ribbon 140is slidably adjustable within the clasp mechanism 152. Clasp mechanisms,as at 152, are very thin and completely protected and padded from thebody of the user of the brassiere such that no discomfort,inconvenience, bulging, or irritation results to the wearer from the useof these clasp mechanisms which are added features of this brassiereover prior brassieres. When the brassiere is in usable position on thewearer thereof, the supporting bands or ribbons 138 and 140 will beadjusted and secured within their respective clasp mechanisms to thepoint that they are tight and taut to conform to the size and shape ofthe breast and engaged chest areas of the user thereof, and then securedin the so adjusted position by closing the latch members as at 162.

The front end portions 30 and 32 of respective brassiere shoulder straps16 and 18 terminate at and are adjustably connected to buckles orsecuring members 168 and 169 respectively. The adjustable connection ofshoulder strap 16 to buckle 168 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 5.These connections at 30 and 32 of the shoulder strap are made adjustablesuch as to accommodate the brassiere to different users having differentsizes and shapes of shoulders 24 and 26. Extending through the lowereyelet .170 of buckle 168 and secured therein, see FIG. 5, is adepending loop of flexible material 172, through which support ribbon orband 140 extends. The ribbon 140 is freely slidable within loop 172 suchas to properly and evenly carry support member 14 at the ends 144 and150 thereof. A similar dependent loop of flexible material 174 issecured to the lower end of buckle 169 in which support ribbon 138 isfreely slidable for like purposes.

Secured to the front of material loop 172 is the male portion 176 of asnap .178, the female portion 180 of which is attached to the topunderside of breast receiving cup 36 of the breast covering member 12,see FIG. 5. A similar type arrangement exists between material loop 174and the inner upper portion of breast receiving cup 34. This type ofarrangement permits easy `and ready opening and closing of the breastreceiving cups 34 and 36 once the breasts of the user have been properlyplaced and supported within the triangular openings afforded by the leftportion 112 of support member 14 and its attached support band 140, andthe right portion 114 of breast support member 14 and its attachedsupport band 138. The breasts are normally properly positioned withintheir respective triangular support areas as indicated in FIG. 2, withthe breast receiving cups 34 and 36 disconnected at their respectivesnap connections on loops 174 and .172 and with the top portions of thebreast receiving cups depending downward from the remainder of thebrassiere below the support member 14. Once the breasts have beenproperly positioned within their respective triangular support areas thebreast receiving cups 34 and 36 are brought up over the breasts andsecured at their respective snap closures adjacent the front of loops174 and 172.

Shoulder straps 16 and 18, strap member 16 being shown in detail in FIG.7, are constructed from a piece of material 182 the ends 184 and 186 -ofwhich have been folded inward to form smooth edges 188 and 190. Thepiece of material 182 is then folded over upon itself such that thesmooth edges .188 and 190 meet in the top center of the so foldedmaterial and are there stitched at 192 and 194 to form an outer memberor shell of shoulder strap 16 having smooth outer edges. Additionallayers of material 196 may be added internally of the outer shell ormember 182 to make the strap thicker and softer to help prevent the samefrom cutting into the Wearers shoulders 24 and 26.

While only a certain preferred embodiment of this invention has beenshown and described by way of illustration, many modifications willoccur to those skilled in the art and it is therefore, desired that itbe understood that it is intended in the appended claims to cover allsuch modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of thisinvention.

What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by LettersPatent of the United States is:

1. In a brassiere including a breast covering outer structure includinga pair of covering cups for the users breasts at the front thereof and apair of backward extensions, said backward extensions of said outerstructure being adjustably and releaseably secured together adjacent themidportion of the users back, a breast supporting hammock innerstructure having breast engaging portions at the front thereof and apair of backward extensions respectively connected to said backwardextensions of said outer structure, a pair of elongated shoulderengaging straps for supporting the brassiere on the user thereof, oneend of each of said shoulder straps being attached to one of saidbackward extensions of one of said outer and inner structures, the otherend of each of said shoulder straps extending over a users shoulder andter-minating in a buckle adjacent the top of a respective said coveringcup, each of said shoulder straps being adjustable within its saidrespective buckle to vary the effective supporting length of said strap,a loop of flexible :material attached to and depending from each saidbuckle, a pair of snap means respectively disposed on and between eachof said breast covering cups adjacent the top thereof and saidrespective loop for detachably securing each said cup to its respectivesaid loop, and an elongated, breast encircling harness member forsupporting said inner structure from said opposite end of each saidshoulder strap, said harness member extending through and being slidablein said loops, said harness member adjacent its midpoition beingattached to said inner structure substantially midway thereof, and saidouter ends of said harness member being attached to said inner structuregenerally between said breast engaging portions and respective backwardextensions thereof.

2. In the brassiere as defined in claim 1 further including clasp meansslidably receiving therein one said outer end of said harness member foradjustably securing said harness member to said inner structure wherebythe elfective supporting length of said harness member may be shortenedand lengthened.

i3. In the brassiere as defined in claim 2` wherein said clasp means isdisposed between said inner and outer structures whereby said claspmeans is shielded from and out of contact with the breast or body of theuser.

14. In the brassiere as defined in claim 1 wherein said harness memberattachment to said inner structure midway thereof is affixed, furtherincluding a pair of clasp means slidably receiving therein respectivesaid outer ends of said harness member for adjustably securing saidharness member to said inner structure whereby the etfective supportinglength of said harness member may be shortened and lengthened.

5. In the brassiere as defined in claim 1 wherein each said loopcomprises a pair of portions -with a passageway therebetween, each saidpair of snap means including a pair of mating elements, one said elementbeing disposed on the inner face of said breast covering cup and theother element being disposed on the outer face of one of said portionsof said loop facing its respective said cup, said other loop portion andsaid harness member extending through said passageway shielding saidother element from and out of contact with the breast of the user.

6. In a brassiere including a breast covering outer structure includinga pair of covering cups for the users breasts at the front thereof and apair of backward extensions, said backward extensions of said outerstructure being adjustably and releaseably secured together adja centthe midportion of the users back, a breast supporting hammock innerstructure having breast engaging portions at the front thereof and apair of backward extensions respectively connected to said backwardextensions of said outer structure, a pair of elongated shoulderengaging straps for supporting the brassiere on the user thereof, oneend of each of said shoulder straps being attached to one of saidbackward extensions of one of said outer and inner structures, the otherend of each of said shoulder straps extending over a users shoulder andterminating in a buckle adjacent the top of a respective said coveringcup, each said shoulder strap being adjustable within its saidrespective buckle to vary the effective supporting length of said strap,a loop of ilexible material attached to and depending from each saidbuckle, the top of each said breast covering cup being detachablyconnected to a respective loop, an elongated, breast encircling harnessmember for supporting said inner structure from said opposite end ofeach said shoulder strap, said harness member extending through andbeing slidable in said loops, said harness member adjacent itsmidportion being attached to said inner structure substantially midwaythereof, said outer ends of said harness member being attached to saidinner structure generally between said breast engaging portions andrespective backward extensions thereof, and generally vertical stitchesattaching said outer structure to said inner structure and positionedbetween said breast engaging portions and said backward extensions ofsaid inner structure and between said cups and said backward extensionsof said outer structure, said stitching commencing at the lower edge ofsaid outer structure and the lower edge of said inner structure andextending generally upward therefrom to a position generally midwaybetween said lower edge and the upper edge of said inner structure foradditionally securing and supporting said inner structure with saidouter structure and providing an increase in uplift and support of theusers breasts.

7. In the brassiere as dened in claim `6 wherein said harness memberattachment to said inner structure midway thereof is axed, furtherincluding a pair of clasp means slidably receiving therein respectivesaid outer ends of said harness member for adjustably securing saidharness member to said inner structure whereby the effective supportinglength of said harness member may be shortened and lengthened, andwherein said clasp means are disposed between said inner and outerstructures whereby said clasp means are shielded from and out of contactwith the breast or body of the user.

References Cited ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

6. IN A BRASSIERE INCLUDING A BREAST COVERING OUTER STRUCTURE INCLUDINGA PAIR OF COVERING CUPS FOR THE USER''S BREASTS AT THE FRONT THEREOF ANDA PAIR OF BACKWARD EXTENSIONS, SAID BACKWARD EXTENSIONS OF SAID OUTERSTRUCTURE BEING ADJUSTABLY AND RELEASEABLY SECURED TOGETHER ADJACENT THEMIDPORTION OF THE USER''S BACK, A BREAST SUPPORTING HAMMOCK INNERSTRUCTURE HAVING BREAST ENGAGING PORTIONS AT THE FRONT THEREOF AND APAIR OF BACKWARD EXTENSIONS RESPECTIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID BACKWARDEXTENSIONS OF SAID OUTER STRUCTURE, A PAIR OF ELONGATED SHOULDERENGAGING STRAPS FOR SUPPORTING THE BRASSIERE ON THE USER THEREOF, ONEEND OF EACH OF SAID SHOULDER STRAPS BEING ATTACHED TO ONE OF SAIDBACKWARD EXTENSIONS OF ONE OF SAID OUTER AND INNER STRUCTURES, THE OTHEREND OF EACH OF SAID SHOULDER STRAPS EXTENDING OVER A USER''S SHOULDERAND TERMINATING IN A BUCKLE ADJACENT THE TOP OF A RESPECTIVE SAIDCOVERING CUP, EACH SAID SHOULDER STRAP BEING ADJUSTABLE WITHIN ITS SAIDRESPECTIVE BUCKLE TO VARY THE EFFECTIVE SUPPORTING LENGTH OF SAID STRAP,A LOOP OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL ATTACHED TO AND DEPENDING FROM EACH SAIDBUCKLE, THE TOP OF EACH SAID BREAST COVERING CUP BEING DETACHABLYCONNECTED TO A RESPECTIVE LOOP, AN ELONGATED, BREAST ENCIRCLING HARNESSMEMBER FOR SUPPORTING SAID INNER STRUCTURE FROM SAID OPPOSITE END OFEACH SAID SHOULDER STRAP, SAID HARNESS MEMBER EXTENDING THROUGH ANDBEING SLIDABLE IN SAID LOOPS, AND HARNESS MEMBER ADJACENT ITS MIDPORTIONBEING ATTACHED TO SAID INNER STRUCTURE SUBSTANTIALLY MIDWAY THEREOF,SAID OUTER ENDS OF SAID HARNESS MEMBER BEING ATTACHED TO SAID INNERSTRUCTURE GENERALLY BETWEEN SAID BREAST ENGAGING